Mercedes has identified and resolved a technical issue with the power unit in George Russell’s Formula 1 car that had adversely affected his performance over the past several races. The discovery comes ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, offering the British driver renewed optimism in his bid for the 2026 world championship.
Russell’s difficulties with his car began at the Austrian Grand Prix and persisted through the British and Belgian Grands Prix, where he experienced intermittent power losses, particularly in energy deployment from the hybrid battery unit. The problem became especially evident on power-dependent circuits like Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. At the Belgian GP last Sunday, Russell was forced out on the opening lap after a high-speed incident involving Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. The collision followed a loss of straight-line speed down the Kemmel Straight caused by the car’s energy shortfall, which left Russell vulnerable to overtakes.
The issue was related to the vehicle’s electrical energy management, a complex system now responsible for about half of the power delivery in modern Formula 1 power units. The deployment of electrical energy is controlled by software algorithms rather than directly by drivers, adding layers of complexity to fault detection and resolution.
According to Russell, extensive analysis at Mercedes’ factory in Brackley uncovered a deeply embedded glitch in the calibration code governing the electric component of the power unit. The flaw was described as difficult to detect without precise knowledge of what to look for in the software. Russell said the nature of the Silverstone and Spa circuits, which demand high electrical power output, helped expose the problem.
The 28-year-old driver expressed relief and renewed confidence following the diagnosis. Speaking in Budapest ahead of the Hungarian GP, he emphasized the challenge posed by the new power units but welcomed the positive update from the team. “I’m glad we have found it. Spa and Silverstone probably exposed the issue just because of the nature of the track,” Russell said.
Russell’s frustration peaked publicly during the Belgian GP when, moments after retiring, he yelled an expletive-laden message over the radio, criticizing the team over the power issue. He has since stood by the intensity of his reaction, stating that it was important to vocalize the problem to ensure it was addressed. “My words could have been slightly different,” he acknowledged, “but if you sit there and don’t express any views, maybe you find an issue, maybe you don’t — you don’t move forward.”
Currently third in the drivers’ standings, Russell trails Mercedes teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 50 points following last weekend’s race, where Antonelli extended his lead with a victory. Russell has also been overtaken in the championship battle by Hamilton, who is five points ahead of him in second place.
With the issue now seemingly resolved, Russell and Mercedes are focused on moving forward as the season progresses. The Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session is scheduled for Saturday, with the race on Sunday. Both will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.